Endogenous gibberellins and kauranoids identified from developing and germinating barley grain

Abstract

Several gibberellins (GAs) and kauranoids were identified in extracts of barley (Hordeum vulgare) by combined capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A partially purified acidic ethyl acetate extract from 21-day postanthesis developing barley grain (cv. Proctor) contained GA1 (trace), GA4 (trace), GA8 (trace), GA12, GA17, GA20 (tentative) (trace), GA25, GA34, GA48, 18-hydroxy-GA4, 12β-hydroxy-GA9, and 18-hydroxy-GA34 (tentative). A hydrolyzed butanol extract contained GA17, GA20, GA48, and 18-hydroxy-GA34 (tentative). An acidic ethyl acetate extract from 3-day-old germinating barley grain (cv. Maris Otter) contained GA1, GA3 (possibly a contaminant), GA17, GA19, GA20, GA34, GA48, and 18-hydroxy-GA34 (tentative). A hydrolyzed butanol extract contained GA34, GA48, and 18-hydroxy-GA34 (tentative). In germinating grain, levels of all GAs were very low. Two hydroxylated kauranoic acids and a number of other kauranoids were also detected in the above extracts. 1β-Hydroxylated GAs previously found in wheat were not found in barley in this study.